Right In The Eye - Part 3

GOOD AT LOOKING

Do you really want to be like everybody else?  Average?

Everybody else is taking their cues from everybody else.

If you take your cues from everybody else, you will end up just like everybody else.

Outside vs. Inside

If you had known that living like that on the outside would leave you feeling like this on the inside...

You did what was right in your own eyes.

You abandoned what you suspected was right in your own heart.

Don't ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you.  Joshua 23:12 NIV

They will be a snare and a trap to you, a whip for your backs and thorny brambles in your eyes and you will vanish from this good land the Lord your God has given you.  Joshua 23:13 NLT

Is God for me? Is God keeping something from me?

Throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord.  Joshua 24:23 NIV

A kingdom of conscience

Inside out

Kingdoms of covet

Outside in

Have you yielded your heart to the Lord, your God?

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.  Psalm 119:35-37 NLT/NIV

Right In The Eye - Part 2

ONE KING LEADS TO ANOTHER

I want to do what I wanna do. I wanna do what I want when I want with whom I want.

So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. Joshua 24:14 NLT

The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods."  Joshua 24:16 NLT

For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us.  Joshua 24:17 NLT

"It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.”  Joshua 24:18 NLT

But the people answered Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!” Joshua 24:21 NLT

The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal. Judges 2:11 NLT

They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord. They abandoned the Lord to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth. Judges 2:12-13 NLT

This made the Lord burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them. Judges 2:14 NLT

Every time Israel went out to battle, the Lord fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress.  Judges 2:15 NLT

They forsook God.

They followed the people around them.

They surrendered their freedom.

Israel simply traded one king for another. They were no longer able to resist.

The Little Kings:    *Appetite        *Lust    *Insecurity        *Greed    *Fear            *Consumption    *Comparison        *Family History

It's always easier to say no to God than it is to say no to the things you substitute for God.

Then the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.  Judges 3:8 NLT

In our attempt to do what we want, when we want, with whom we want, all we do is trade one king for another.

Right In The Eye - Part 1

STRANGER THAN FICTION

While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, “Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him.” Judges 19:22 NLT

The old man stepped outside to talk to them. No, my brothers, don’t do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful. Judges 19:23 NLT

Here, take my virgin daughter and this man’s concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can abuse them and do whatever you like. But don’t do such a shameful thing to this man. Judges 19:24 NLT

But they wouldn’t listen to him. So the Levite took hold of his concubine and pushed her out the door. Judges 19:25a NLT

Everyone who saw it said, “Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt. Think about it! What are we going to do? Who’s going to speak up?” Judges 19:30 NLT

Then all the Israelites were united as one man, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, including those from across the Jordan in the land of Gilead. The entire community assembled in the presence of the Lord at Mizpah. Judges 20:1 NLT

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 21:25 NLT

In those days, there was no binding moral consensus.

So people followed their own moral compass.

We want the freedom to do what we want, when we want, with whom we want, as long as it doesn't hurt anybody.

Only the super-rich can afford this.

Generally, this works out better for men than women.

Everywhere that women have rights, they've had to fight for them.

You can't do what's right in your own eyes without eventually hurting someone.

Eventually you hurt you.

You're gonna be mastered by something.

The thing that has mastered you began as an expression of your freedom.

You hurt the people...    *with you.    *that care about you.    *coming along after you.

I should be able to do what I want, when I want, with whom I want as long as it helps somebody.

Jesus Shows Up And A Dad Speaks Up

When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. 

“What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked. One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” 

Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 

The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” 

Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
Mark 9:14-29 NLT

Jesus arrives and asks what the arguing is about. A desperate dad answers.

Special needs dads suffer silently with broken hearts.

Special needs dads struggle with being the protector.

Jesus instructs that the boy be brought to Him. Jesus begins to work.

The dad was honest with Jesus.

Jesus heals the boy.

Jesus not only healed the boy, He healed the dad.

Jesus makes the point that the disciples really need to ramp up their prayer life.

Radical Faith Produces Radical Blessings

Abraham demonstrated RADICAL faith

After receiving instructions to sacrifice his one and only son, he started EARLY the next day in his journey of obedience.

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. Genesis 22:1-3

He viewed this act of obedience as WORSHIP for BOTH he and his son.

On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:4-5

He trusts God to PROVIDE the sacrifice necessary to spare his son’s life.

Genesis 22:6-8

He is prepared to OBEY God completely and wholeheartedly.

Genesis 22:9-11

The Key to Abraham’s Obedience was his WILLING Heart.

But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Genesis 22:11

Abraham experienced RADICAL blessings.

IMMEDIATE blessings.

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22:13-14

Long-Term / LEGACY blessings.

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, Genesis 22:15-17

ETERNAL / Spiritual blessings.

and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:18

All of Abraham’s blessings were due to his willingness to OBEY.

Radical Faith STILL Produces Radical Blessings.

Avoiding Election Infection

Faith before politics.

You don't see any conflict between your faith and your politics.

Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.  I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Luke 5:31-32 

They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food.  Matthew 15:37 NLT

Bible first / Politics second

Jesus first / Political party second

To get this right we must do something Jesus did.

People first / Politics second

We can disagree on what's best for people, but we can't disagree that what's best for people is what's best.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  Matthew 22:37-38 NLT

A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:39-40 NLT

Your behavior makes perfect sense to you.

Everybody's behavior makes perfect sense to him or her.

Your political views make perfect sense to you.

Everybody's political views make perfect sense to him or her.

Be a student, not a critic.

Jesus' followers should be the most confident, curious, composed, compassionate people in the room.

Four Questions to Avoid Election Infection:

1. What led you to hold that view?
2. Have you always held this view?
3. Have you met him? her?
4. I get most of my information from the media.  How about you?

In conclusion:
- Opinion?
- Argue your point?
- Make a point at the expense of influence?
- Jeopardize a relationship? 

Sending Free

Sending Free

Jesus' example gives the suggestion that at point anyone can have a new life.

We get to recognize our shortcomings and have another go at it.

CS Lewis said “Friends aren’t mandatory to survival but they do give it meaning.”

To follow Jesus by ourselves is possible though when we find it harder than expected we slow down and sometimes stop altogether. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  Galatians 6:1-3 ESV

Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to

wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”  John 13:10 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20 ESV

What prevents me from following Jesus?

What slows me down and creates a struggle in following Jesus?

Who is around me cares and have I withdrawn from them?

I am free to follow Jesus how He made me.

Jesus hasn’t given up on me and I shouldn’t either.

What Makes You Happy - Part 6

You're Not Enough

As long as you are all about you, you won't be happy.

You can't fulfill you.

You cannot acquire, consume or even exercise your way to happiness.

You can serve and volunteer your way to happiness.

How can behaving selflessly make myself happier?

How can emptying myself leave me feeling so full?

DIVINE DESIGN

Sin separates us into our own self-centered worlds.

You've got to find a way to give yourself a way.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.  Galatians 5:16 NLT

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Galatians 5:17 NLT

But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.  Galatians 5:18 NLT

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 
Galatians 5:24 NLT

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25 NLT

How do we measure the value of a life?

The value of a life is always measured by how much of it was given away.

If it's all about you, you'll never be happy.

You were designed by the giver of life to give your life away.